Pass It On My first few years in OA, I was working the Twelve Step program my own way. It didn’t work. I heard the suggestion to get a sponsor, so I did—several times— but I never bothered to talk to them. After four of the most painful years of my existence, having one foot in the Fellowship and the other pointing outward, … Read More
Someone to Practice On I didn’t want advice. I didn’t want to go through another person to get to God. I had isolated to perfection—and then I learned what a sponsor could be for me. I still have my first sponsor, and for a brief time, I had an additional sponsor from whom I gleaned a tremendous amount. For me, a sponsor is a … Read More
When I Give, I Get It took every ounce of courage I had to ask someone to be my sponsor. The first two people I asked had to refuse; they were sponsoring others and didn’t feel they could give me the time they thought I deserved. The third agreed—and my life changed. She was very strict: I would do what she told me to do, … Read More
Truly Empowering I have been a proud member of OA for more than thirty years; I’ve had many relapses and also a lot of recovery in this Fellowship. I attend my region assemblies each year, but last year I was thrilled by the opportunity to go to Boston, Massachusetts USA in September 2016 for my first World Service Convention. I had booked my … Read More
How Great It Was I mostly attend business assemblies and rarely get to the recovery events, but this time it would be strictly recovery. A friend in California suggested we meet at the 2016 Convention in Boston. We have been friends for decades as a result of our recovery and service to OA, but too much time passes between our visits, so this became our … Read More
Term Lesson I went to World Service Business Conference as a new delegate, with excitement and some fear. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew I was there to give service, but I was afraid I wouldn’t get enough downtime. (I have to balance my need for downtime against a tendency to isolate.) Balance was my motto for the week, but … Read More
Totally Immersed My first Unity Day was in February, 2010. I had just started attending meetings, but I had no idea how the program worked. At a Unity Day celebration, I was exposed to dozens of people working the Steps. It wasn’t about being overweight; it was about sanity. At a workshop, I made friends who encouraged me to work the Steps, … Read More
Stepping Up Attending World Service Business Conference as a delegate, I discovered how much responsibility is involved in shaping and maintaining the OA recovery framework from which we all benefit. Every policy and piece of literature goes through an extensive process that includes several layers of review and revision. Ordinary OA members participate in that development process, so our program’s resources are the … Read More
Powerful Surprise About 1,200 OA members from around the world met in early September to celebrate recovery with four days of festivities in Boston. Several folks from Alaska USA made the trip, and what a wonderful experience it was! There were seventy-two workshops, skits (with a revolutionary theme), and keynote speakers. Hospitality and fellowship abounded. It was sometimes hard to decide what to … Read More
Symbol of Support This is my third Unity Day, and I’ve been in OA three years. I attend at least two meetings a week, and Unity Day adds a good boost to my program. Weekly meetings can become routine, but there is something powerful about being in a larger group, knowing that OA members the world over are joining hands at the same … Read More